Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobecosubu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Sunlobecosubu’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and light violet blue-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Lobelia erinus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNLOBECOSUBU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Sunlobecosubu’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Lobelia plants freely branchingand bushy plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinusidentified as code number 6Lob-HL1, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identifiedas code number 6Lob-ab, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant with the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan inMay, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative cuttings inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan since May, 2007 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunlobecosubu’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sunlobecosubu’ as a new and distinct Lobeliaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Light violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selectionhave darker violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus‘Loboudtis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,526. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newLobelia differed from plants of ‘Loboudtis’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were taller and bushier than and        not as outwardly spreading than plants of ‘Loboudtis’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lobelia were narrowly elliptic in        shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Loboudtis’ were broadly ovate        in shape.    -   3. Upper petals of plants of the new Lobelia were broader than        upper petals of plants of ‘Loboudtis’.    -   4. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Loboudtis’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Loboudtis’ had darker violet blue-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobecosubu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobecosubu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nurseryin Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Lobelia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C.Plants were four months old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘Sunlobecosubu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia            erinus identified as code number 6Lob-HL1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia            erinus identified as code number 6Lob-ab, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            15° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and mounding            plant habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches            developing at potentially every node; relatively short            internodes; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 44.5 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Diameter: About 1.4 mm.            Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 137A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 137D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement, habit and shape.—Flowers typically            arranged in terminal and lateral racemes; flowers held            mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with typically two            to six flowers per inflorescence and about 265 flowers per            plant; flowers bilabiate with two upper petals and three            larger lower petals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants of the new            Lobelia flower from May until October; plants begin            flowering about three to four weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on temperature, flowers            typically last about 10 to 14 days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Flower length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 9.7 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3.2 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 12.9 mm. Diameter: About 3.9 mm.            Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Close to 150C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals fused            towards the base; two upper petals and three larger lower            petals. Upper petals: Length, beyond throat: About 5.4 mm.            Width: About 2.6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Lower petals: Length, beyond throat: About 7.8 mm. Width:            About 5.1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper petals: When opening, upper surface: Close to 96D.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 97B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 97A. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 97C. Color, lower petals: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 96D; towards the base, close to NN155C.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 97B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 97A; towards the base, close to            NN155C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 97C. Color,            throat: Close to NN155C; spots, close to 94B; nectar guides,            close to 154A. Color, tube: Close to 97D.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at            the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 6.2 mm. Width:            About 1.3 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly            pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B,            occasionally tinged with red-purple.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Stamen length: About 7 mm. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            width: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong, fused. Anther            color: Close to 93B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to NN155B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 8.8 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-lobate. Stigma color:            Close to 86C. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close            to 145A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Lobelia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 28° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobecosubu’as illustrated and described.